A comprehensive lesson designed to help middle school students master the art of writing strong, argumentative thesis statements through a blueprint-themed instructional approach.

A comprehensive lesson for middle schoolers on mastering the art of the argumentative hook, covering four distinct strategies to grab a reader's attention and bridge to a strong claim.

A focused 30-minute exploration of Macbeth's moral decay and psychological collapse across Act II, Scene 2 and Act III, Scene 4. Students analyze the immediate aftermath of regicide and the public appearance of Banquo's ghost to determine if Macbeth is fit for the crown.

This lesson focuses on Chapter 4 of Frederick Douglass's narrative, analyzing how specific accounts of murder illustrate the inhumanity of slavery and the corruption of the Southern legal system. Students analyze key lines and imagery to identify Douglass's central claims about the lack of justice and value placed on enslaved lives.

An analysis of Chapter 8 'Moscow', focusing on the introduction of Uncle Anoosh and the influence of political ideology on personal identity and Marji's concept of heroism.

A lesson centered on Paul Laurence Dunbar's 'The Place Where the Rainbow Ends,' focusing on imagery, symbolism, and the theme of hope through collaborative discussion and creative analysis.

A 9-paragraph reading and CER analysis focused on identifying the author's purpose in the context of tourism across Central America.

A lesson focused on using the 'bolts and structure' metaphor to teach students how to identify and use text evidence to support inferences. Students learn to see evidence as the essential hardware that prevents their ideas from falling apart.

A lightning-fast 5-minute mini-lesson focusing on identifying and analyzing shifts in a character's point of view through a short narrative model.

A vocabulary assessment for the novel 'The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963' focused on the words desperate, exasperated, hypnotized, jabber, and tempt. Designed with accessibility and clear character context for scholars.

A detective-themed lesson where students analyze the conflicting perspectives of Melba and Minnijean regarding the school play in Warriors Don't Cry. Students gather evidence to understand individual motivations and group concerns during the integration of Central High.

A sophisticated 100th-day celebration focused on vocabulary expansion and reflection. Students participate in a 'Lexicon 100' challenge to curate 100 specific words across grammatical and thematic categories, culminating in a personal reflection on their academic journey.

This lesson helps 9th grade students distinguish between racial and class prejudice using Reginald Rose's '12 Angry Men' as a primary case study. Students will define key terms, compare features of bias, and analyze specific juror behaviors from the play.